Lyman



l L..0. ORTON.

kNo Model.)

lLUBRIGATOR;

Nol 530,715.

. Patented Deo. 11,1894'.

HHHHHH HW H UNITED. STATES PATI-:NT OFFI.

LYMAN O. ORTON, OF MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE DODGE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F SAME PLACE.

SPECIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,715, dated December 11, 1 894. Application filed June 23,1894. I Serial No. 515,504. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, LYMAN 0. ORTON, of Mishawaka, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful lubricator for taking oil from areservoir in Ithe bottom of a bearing-box and de,- livering it upon the shaft as it revolves therein, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a bearing box with an oil reservoir and lubricator in position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of my lubricators. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same in its first stage. 'Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the block in its first stage. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the binding band for the base of the block.

This device acts by means of capillary attraction which causes the oil to ascend above the liquid surface in the reservoir to replace that Which is removed by the shaft as it revolves.

I am aware that fibrous and interlaced materials like lamp wicking have been employed for lubrication by capillary action, but oxidation of the creeping oil soon closes the small interstices in the material and so greatly reduces efficiency as to render this mode practically useless without frequent renewals, which are difi'icult and impractical. I am also aware that metal plates arranged in open zigzag as to each other have been employed, but these plates being impervious to the oil, can only support the thin film which will adhere to the impervious surface, and the small quantity which can be supported in the extreme angle where the zigzag approaches sufficiently close to constit ute a capillary space. In all capillary lubricators heretofore the action is external as to the carrier and a large surface of the oil suspended above the liquid surface in the reservoir is constantly exposed to the oxidizing influence of the atmospheric air. To remedy this objection, which applies to any lubricator which employs capillary action with the oil exposed in an extended surface, to the atmosphere, I have constructed my lubricator with an intention to secure therein a series of contiguous capillary spaces closed against access of the air, so that no oxidation of the oil can take place during its transit from the reservoir to the shaft, and as will be apparent, this purpose may be attained with metal wound or folded or with any other convenient and suitable material; but for this purpose I have selected wood as being both cheaper and more efficient than metal, and susceptible of being worked in a great variety of ways. The cellular structure of wood enables it to absorb and carry a considerable quantity of oil Without any exposure to the atmosphere or oxidation, but this capacity is not adequate for all purposes, and therefore I construct the lubricator with a series of internal, longitudinal tubes, preferably lengthwise the grain, and closed against access of air. It is apparent that these tubes may be produced in a variety of ways, as for instance, by boring, by assembling a number of grooved pieces, &c., but I have preferred to producethem bytmaking saw slits alternately from opposite sides of the block and closing the same at their outer ends by pressing together so' that they constitute `very thin closed capillary tubes through which the oil will ascend freely without exposure to the air and without oxidation. The absorbency of the wood enables it to present the best possible capillary surface.

Therefore the gist of my invention rests, first, in the tubular character of the lubricator; second, inqthe cellular structure of the wood itself, wlich, unaided, will conduct a considerable quantity of oil, and by reason of saturation will-present the best possible capillary surface; and third, in the particular strnctural method by which closed capillary tubes are formed in the block of wood.

Some vegetable growths, like rattan, present such a perfect tubular arrangement that no artificial tubes would be required, but rattan would be much more expensive and no more ecient. Some of the soft Woods are also sufliciently porous to serve efficiently under some circumstances, but the lubricator constructed as described above, or as shown in the drawings is inexpensive and efficient under all circumstances.

In 'Fig. 1, A, is the bearing box having an IOO oil reservoirA' inits bottom. This box and res'- ervoir may be arranged in a great variety of ways, and the structure of them does not enter into this case. bearing box. O is my lubricator composed of a block of wood, partly severed lengthwise of the grain, with saw cuts d. d. penetrating alternately from one side and the other, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This causes the tubular structure of the wood to be the direction of the movement of the oil, and it also presents the end grain of the block to contact with the moving shaft to secure the greatest durability.

The slitted block C is pressed together as shown in Fig. 2 causing the open ends ofthe slits to be closed but leaving the slits in the form of thin tubes, trangular in cross section, thus forming closed capillary tubes with walls close together. A metallic band e encircles the block and retains it pressed together with the slits closed as shown. I find it convenient to make this band in two parts, as shown in Fig. 5, the ends being soldered together after being in place. The parts f. f. form a bridge across beneath the middle of the block to support the spring G which serves to press the block upward and maintain it in contact with the shaft. To keep the band from slipping oif the block if it shrinks, a groove h is made in the opposite sides of the block and the edge z' of the band B is the shaft, resting in said.

is turned over to enter into said grooves. The parts of the band e are punched from sheets of metal and are pressed into form bya 3 5 punch and die. It will be apparent that the same results may be obtained more or less substantially without following the details herein described exactly, but the method of slitting, closing, banding and supporting the 40 block, has been found to be inexpensive and eficient.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A lubricator composed of a block of wood partially severed by saw cuts, and closed at their open ends by permanently pressing together to constitute internal thin capillary tubes substantially for the purpose set forth.

2. A lubricator composed of a block of Wood C partly severed by saw cuts d. cl. pene- 5o trating from opposite sides alternately, and a fastening band e substantially for the purpose set forth.

3. A lubricator composed of a block of wood O` partly severed by saw cuts penetrating from opposite sides alternately, and having side grooves h combined with a band e provided with lianges 'i. i. and the supporting spring G substantially for the purpose set 

